SAVE OUr Bats

SAVING THE Northern Long-Eared Bat

The northern long-eared bat — distinguishable from its close relatives, as one might presume, by its long ears — is a small bat associated with mature, interior forest environments. Unlike most other bats, the northern long-eared forages along wooded hillsides and ridgelines — not above valley-bottom streams and along the edges of riparian forests. This species is also much more solitary in its roosting and hibernating habits than are other bats, preferring to hide in tight crevices and holes instead of hanging out in open areas within caves. Sometimes only the nose and ears of northern long-eared bats are visible when they hibernate.

Of the seven species known to be affected by the deadly bat disease white-nose syndrome, the northern long-eared is among the hardest hit. In the U.S. Northeast, where white-nose syndrome has been killing bats for the longest period of time (since 2006), the northern long-eared has declined by a shocking 99 percent.

Because of this species' strong association with large blocks of older forests, forest fragmentation, logging and forest conversion (such as clearing trees for agriculture and development) are also major threats to the species — not to mention direct human disturbance; industrial wind-energy projects which kill bats that fly into them; environmental contaminants like pesticides and fracking wastewater; and other forms of habitat destruction, such as mining.

Because of these ongoing threats and this bat's dramatic decline due to white-nose syndrome, the Center petitioned for the northern long-eared bat to be added to the federal list of endangered species in 2010. In 2015 the Service finally placed the bat on the list, but the agency backpedaled from its initial recommendation to protect it as “endangered” instead, granting it the less protective "threatened" status. In addition, the Service issued a special rule exempting nearly all activities harmful to the bat — short of intentional killing — from the normal provisions of the Endangered Act. These exempted activities include logging, oil and gas drilling, mining, and construction of wind energy projects: some of the bat's greatest threats. In response, the Center and three other conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Service for authorizing logging and widespread destruction of habitat for northern long-eared bats. Shortly after that, the Service declined to protect any of the critical habitat for northern long-eared bats, saying it would not be “prudent” for the species.

With your help, we'll keep fighting for the survival of northern long-nosed bats.